Amusement device



J. C. WELCH.

AMUSEMENTIDEVICE. APPLICATION HLED MAR. Q, 1920.

Patented Feb.14, 1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

avwentoz fissClIi/lch 1. c. WELCH.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-3, 1920.

J. C. WELCH.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE- APPLICATION HLED MAR. 9, I920.

.l. C. WE'LCH.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9, 1920.

Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

5 SHEET SSHEET 4 Jessa 6 Nelch J. C. WELCH.

' AMUSEMENT DEVICE- APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9. 1920.

Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

' 5 suzzrs-suzn s.

PATENT OFFICE.

, essa: o. vvnLoH, or raooivm, WASHINGTON.

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I Specification pf Letters Patent. Patented Feb, 14 1922 Application filed March 9, 1920. Serial No. 364,416.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known thatl, Jesse C. VVnLon, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of Tacoma, county of Pierce and State of ashingtonyhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Amusement Devices, of which the following -is a specification.

This invention relatesto amusement devices such as are used in pleasure resorts, hibition grounds, parks and like places, and more. particularly to improvements in that character of amusement apparatus wherein a ringshaped platform is mounted so as to lllOVedll a horizontal plane about a central loading platform anda plurality of supporting towers are mounted at spacedintervals thereon, each of which is equipped with a plurality of radially extending arms where from carriages, seats, or mounts of various forms, whereon people may ride, are suspended.

It is the principal object oft-he invention to provide'a-novel devicecomprising means whereby the tower supporting platfrom may be driven and'means through which its revolving will rotate and reciprocate the radially extending arms.

It is a further object to provide for the individual revolving of carriages through their suspending members while they are revolved about their supporting towers.

In accomplishing these and other'objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accom panying drawings,wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of an amusement device constructed according to the present invention. V I

Figure 2 is-a side elevation of the same. Figure 3 is an enlarged, sectional view taken verticallythroughthe central tower of the device, the loading and revolving platform, and a carriage supporting tower, particularly illustrating the driving mechanism of the several parts.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the parts parti.(.-ularly illustrated in Figured Figure is a detail, sectional view ofthe lower end'of one of the carriagesupporting towers,showing the mechanism for rotating and oscillating the radial arms, and mechanism for moving the oscillating members along undulatory tracks about the towers.

Figure 6 is a sectional view, on the line (36 of Figure 5, illustrating the mechanism ror revolving a ring which moves'the oscillating braces. I

ld igure 7 is an enlarged, detail view of the driving mechanism at the upper end of a supporting tower for rotating the arms, and

revolving the suspended carriages or seats.

FigureS is a sectional, detail view of a inodlfied construction, wherein the loading and revolving platform are in the same horizontal plane and the carriage suspending arms are not oscillated.

Figure '9 is a detail sectional view of another modified construction, wherein there is anelevated loading platform for each tower.

Referring more in detail to the several views ofthe drawings, whereinlike referencecharacters designate like parts, 1 designates a central tower about which a circular, elevated platform 2is built, the latter being of substantial construction, so that it may serve as a platform whercon people may gather to be loaded onto the carriages of the I several towers, as is presently described. and is provided with a plurality of stairways, or inc-lines, 3, leading thereto from the ground level, as is particularly illustrated in'Figures l and 3, whereby access is had to and from the loading places; access to these stairways being had through openings 4 in the side walls whichsupport the platform.

Revolublysupported, tomove in a horizontal plane considerably below the plane of the platform 2, and concentrically about the tower l and loading platform, is a ring-like platform 5, provided. on its underside with a substantial circular track 6 whereby it is supported on a plurality of rollers 7 arranged at closely spaced intervals, radially and circumferentially about the central platform and tower.

Mounted at regularly spaced intervals about the platfor n-f), are towers 10 each of which at its upper end supports a'plurality of radially extending arms 11., wherefrom carriages, seats or mounts, 12,0f various kinds, whereon people may ride, are susthe tower 10 is a shaft 14 which is revoljubly mounted at its lower end and adjacent/its upper end, respectively, in bearings 15 and l 16; the bearing being fixed to the platform 5, while the bearing 16 is fixed within the upper end of the tower; The shaft 14 is extendedfrom the upper end of the tower and has a collar 17 revoluble thereon to which the outerend of a cable 18 is attached, to resist centrifugal force that might tend to throw the tower outwardly while the de-.

vice was in operation; the inner end of the cable being fixed to a collar 19 that is like-- wise revoluble on a. shaft 20 that extends vertically from the upper end of the'central tower 1. I i

The arms 11 are pivotally mountechiso that they may move vertically at their outer ends, between arms 22 that extend outwardly in pairs from a ring 23 that is revoluble 011 the upper end of the tower 10; the ring being retained between a flanged supporting ring and the periphery of a horizontally disposed bevel gear wheel 25 fixed in the upper end of the tower.-' This ring 23 is revolved on its mounting througha connection with the shaft 14, consisting-of a cap 26 that is securely fixed to the shaft and has peripheral connection with the ring in such manner that rotation of the shaft 14will cause the arms 11 to bev revolved as the spokes of a wheel abouttheir supporting tower.

The means provided for supporting the arms 11 in extended positionand for transmitting the oscillatory motion thereto cone sists of a series of inclined brace members 30, which, at their upper ends, are pivotally fixed to the outer ends of the arms 11, and at their lower ends are provided with grooved rollers 31 which are adapted to follow an u-ndulatory track 32 which encircles the base of the tower.

In order that the lower ends of these brace members may be moved along the track 32 in accordance with the movement of the arms 11, I have mounted an internally toothed ring 35 about the tower slightly above the track 32, which-is adapted to rotate between guide flanges 36 and 37, secured to the tower. Meshing with this ring is a gear wheel 38 that is fixed on a vertical shaft 39 extending revolubly between cross heads 40 and 41, within the tower, and fixed on the shaft to turn with the gear 38 is a smaller gear wheel 42 that is driven through the intermediacy of an idler gear wheel 43 by means of a gear wheel 44 that is keyed onto the shaft 14. Extending outwardly in pairs from the ring 35 are spaced apart arms 45, forming guideways 46 wherein the lower ends of the braces 30 are slid-ably retained and are maintained in properly spaced relation. t

The relative proportions of the ring 35 and gear wheels 38, 42, 43, and 44 are such that the ring 35 will turn in the same direction and at the same angular speed as the manner.

shaft 14, so that they will at all times be maintained in vertical planes with respect a to the'arms which they support. The shaft 14 is driven through connection with a shaft 46 that is mounted in bearings 47 and 48, secured respectively to the plat-v form 5 andtower 10; At one end this shaft has gear wheel :49'fixedv thereon, which travels in mesh with a geared band '50 that is fixed to and encircles the vertical circumferential wall 51 of the platform 2, and at its opposite endhas a bevel pinion52 thereon which runs 'in mesh with an upwardly'facing bevel geared wheel 53 that is 1 keyed to the shaft 14. i V

The-platform 5 is revolved by means of a plurality of driving shafts rwhich-extend radially from a central driving shaft 61, mounted vertically at the center of the device and driven by any suitable driving mechanism, not shown, throughthe gearing indicated at 62. 1

Thefshaft 61 has a bevelgear wheel 63 fixed thereon which meshes with pinions 64 at; the inner ends of the shafts 60, and these several shafts 60 have gear wheels 65 at their outer ends which follow .a toothed ring 66 secured to the under side of the platform 5 concentric therewith. 1

\Vith the driving mechanism so construct; ed it will be seen that rotation of the shaft 61 will rotate the shafts 60 to revolve the platform 5 on the rollers 7 and as the said platform revolves, the several towers '10 are carried therewith about the central tower 1. It is also apparent that revolving of the platform 5 causes the gear wheels 49 to move along the geared track or ring'50 which rev olves the shaft .46 to likewise revolve the shaft 14 to rotate the arms 11 from which the carriages or seats 12 are suspended,

I have also provided for rotating the individual carriages as they are revolved about the t0wers, through their suspending members. This is accomplished in the following Mounted revolublyin the cap 26 to extend radially with respect to the shaft 14, are short shaft sections 70, each of which has a bevel gear 71 at its inner end traveling in mesh with the bevel gear 25 thatis fixed in the upper end of the tower, and at their outer ends are connected through universal joint connections 72 with the inner end of shafts 73,which are telescopically connected at their outer ends with sleeves 74 that are fixed to shafts 75. The latter shafts extend along the arms ,11 and are revoluble in bearings 7 6 adjacent the ends of said arms, and have bevel gears 77 at their ends meshing with bevel gears '78 at the upper having some form of carriage oi-mouiit 12 attached thereto at their'lo'wer ends.

Since the gear wheel 25"is not revolublc with respect to the tower 10 and the cap 26 is revolved by the shaft. 14, it is apparent that revolving of the cap will cause the shaft sections to be revolvedto rotate the-car riagesas they revolve about their respective towers and the towers 10" likewise revolve about the central tower 1.

In Figure 81 have illustrated a modified construction, which is substantially the same as that already described, exceptthat the outer platform 5 is located in the same plane as the loading platform and the radially extending arms are not oscillated.

In this construction the shaft lei-is driven by means of a gear wheel which is fixed to its lower end and runs in mesh with a smaller idler gear 92 fixed on the under side of the platform to follow a geared ring 93 that is fixed to the foundation 9st of the platform 2. e

In Figure 9 I have illustrated another modified construction, wherein loading platforms 95 are built about each of the towers 10 to move therewith and which are elevated above the range of bystanders and are reached by stairways, as shown at 96.

By the mechanism described, it will be seen that the platform 5 maybe actuated to move the several towers l0 revolubly about the central tower 1, the arms of each tower will be rotated and reciprocated, and the individual carriages will be revolved through. their suspendingmembers and will swing outwardly they are revolved.

W'hile the principal construction shows mechanism for simultaneously producing all these motions, it is apparent that in devices where several towers 10 are used, some may be equipped only as the construction as in Figure 8, and some as in Figure 9, where the carriages are not revolved through their suspending bars; it being the intention to provide for more or less motion according to the likes of the individuals using the device. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An amusement device of the character described, comprising a circular central platform, an annular plat-form mounted to revolve in a. horizontal plane about the said central platform, a plurality of towers erected on the said annular platform to more therewith, a plurality of arms extended ra dially fromthe upper ends of said towers, cafrriages swingingly suspended fronithe said arms to adjacent the central platform, means for revolving the annular platform and means operable by the revolving of said platform for revolving the said arms at the 'upper ends of thetowers.

by centrifugal force as '2. An amusement device 'of' the character described, comprising a central loading platform, rollers arranged radially and circumferentially about the central platform, an

annular platform having a circular track on its under side mounted to revolve about the central platform on said rollers, carriages mounted on said annular platform accessible front the central platform and means for re volving the said annular-platform about the said central platform. i

3. An amusement device of the character described, comprising an elevated circular platform, rollers arranged radially and circumferentially about said centralplatform, an annular platform mounted to revolve on said rollers about the said elevated platform in a horizontal plane below the plane of the.

latter, a plurality of towers erected on said revoluble platform, a plurality of arms ex tending radially from the said towers, carriages suspended from said arms accessible only from the elevated platform, means for revolving the annular platform and means operable by revolving of said annular platform for actuatingthe radial arms and carriages revolubly about the towers.

4. An amusement device of theeharacter described, comprising an elevated circular carriages swingingly suspended from the outer ends of said arms to pass adjacent the elevated platform,means for revolving said annular platform, means operable by the revolving of saidplatform for revolving said caps to revolve the radial arms and carriages about their supporting towers, and means for oscillating the arms vertically as they revolve. i i

5. An amusement device of the character described, comprising a circular central platform, an annular platform mounted to revolve about said central platform. a plu ality of towers erected on the annular plat-- form to move therewith, a plurality of arms extended radially from the said towers, carriages suspended from the outer ends of said arms, means for revolx ing. the annular platform, means operable by the revolving of the annular platform for rotating the arms about the towers and means operable by the rotating of said arms for revolving each of the carriages individually through its suspending member.

6. An amusementdevice of the character describd, comprising a circular central platform, an annular platform mounted to re volve about the said central platform, a plu- 'ality of, towers erected at equally spaced intervals about the sa d annularplatforin to movetherewith,"caps mounted revolubly at the upper ends of said towers, arms extending radially from said caps, carriages swingingly suspended from the outerjends of said arms, means for revolving the annular platform, means operable'by the revolving of said platform for rotatingthe tower caps to revoive the arms and carriages, means for oscillating the outer ends of the radial arms vertically as theygrevolve and means for revolvingeach of the carriages individually through its suspending member. p a

v7. An amusementdevice of the character described, comprising a circular central platform, an annular platform mounted to revolve about the central platform, a plurality of towers erected at regular intervals about the annular platform to move therewith, caps revoluble on the upper ends of said towers, a plurality of arms pivotally fixed to said caps and extending radially there from, carriages suspended from said arms to move adjacent the central platform, an undulatory track encircling each of the sail towers, supporting braces for each of the radial arnis pivotally attached to thee-aid arms at their upper end and having guide rollers at their lower ends adapted to follow the said tracks, means for revolving the annularplatform, means operable by the revolving of the annular platformfor rotating the caps on the towers to rotate the arms and carriages about the towers and means for actuating the brace members alongithe undulatory tracks as the arms rotate to oscillate the arms vertically at their outer ends.

8. An amusement device of the character described, comprising a circular platform supported in an elevated manner by means of a circular vertical wall, an annular platform mounted to revolve about said elevated platform, towers erected on said annular platform, arms extending radially from said towers, carriages suspended from said anus adapted to swing to loading position adja cent the elevated platform; the said platform supporting wall having openings therein and stairways leading from said epenings to the elevated platform for the passage of people onto and from-the loading platform. V

9. 'An-amusement device of the character described, comprising a central circular loading platform, an annular platform adapted to revolve in a horizontal plane on rollers arranged radially and circ'umferentially about said central platformand having carriages mounted thereon accessible fromthe loading platform, a vertical drive shaft mounted centrally within the loading platform, an annular geared ring fixed to the annular platform, shafts extending radially from the central driving shaft and said annular ring,-i and means for driving the central shaft.

10.,An amusement device of the character described comprising a circular central loading platform supported in an elevated p'osi tion by means of a circular vertical wall, roll ers arranged radially and circnmferentially aboutthe said wall, an annular platform mounted on said rollers torrevolve about the central platform in a horizontal plane at alower level than the plane of said central platform, an annular geared ring fixed about the said supporting wall, a plurality of towers erectedon said annular platform, caps revolubly fixed on the said towers, arms extended radially from said caps, carriages suspended from said arms to swing to loading position adjacent the central platform, shafts fixed at their upper ends to said caps and extending downwardly within the towers, bevel geared wheels fixed on the said shafts, shafts mounted horizontally on the annular platform in radial alinement having geared connection at their outer ends with the said bevel gears of the vertical shafts and at their inner ends having gearing connection with the annular geared ring whereby revolving of the annular platform will re volve the radial arms about the towers.

11. An amusement device of the character described, comprising a central loading platform, an annular platform adapted to re volve about the central platform at a substantially lower horizontal level, towers Sup ported at spaced intervals about the annular platform, acap revolubly mounted at the upper end of each tower, arms pivotally at tached to the caps and extending radially therefrom, carriages swingingly suspended from the outer ends of said arms adapted to move to loading position adjacent the loading plat-form, an undulatory track encircling the base of each tower, brace arms pivotally fixed at their upper ends to the radial arms and having rollers at their lower ends sup ported upon said tracks, a ring mounted to revolve upon the towers adjacent the said tracks, shafts extending vertically within the said towers fixed at their upper ends to the said revoluble caps and having driving'connection with the said rings whereby the latter will be revolved in accordance with the revolving of the caps and said rings having guide arms extending radially therefrom to advance the lower ends of the brace members along the undulatory tracks accordingly as their upper ends move with the radially extending arms.

12. An amusement device of the character described, comprising a circular central loading platform, an annular platform adapted to be revolved in a horizontal plane about the said central platform, towers mounted on the said annular platform, caps revolubly mounted at the upper ends of said columns, drive shafts fixed to said caps and extending vertically within the towers, arms pivotally fixed to the said caps and extending radially therefrom, carriages swingingly suspended from the outer ends of said arms to move adjacent of the supporting braces, gears fixed to the vertical shaft within the towers and intermediate gears connecting the said gears with the internally geared ring whereby the latter are rotated accordingly as are the caps and the vertical braces are maintained in vertical alinement with the arms which they support,'and means operable by the revolving of the annular platform for revolving the vertical shafts. i

18. In an amusement device of the character described, a carriage supporting tower, a cap revolubly mounted upon said tower, arms extending horizontally and radially from said cap, a drive shaft for the cap extending vertically Within the tower, a bevel gear Wheel fixed horizontally upon the tower centrally within the cap, carriages suspended from the outer ends of said arms by means of shafts extending vertically and revolubly through the said arms, shafts revolubly mounted and extending longitudinally along the arms and operatively connected at their opposite ends by means of gearing with said horizontal bevel gear and with the carriage supporting shafts and means for rotating the drive shaft for the purpose set forth.

141-. An amusement device of the character described, comprising a supporting tower, a cap revolublymounted upon said tower, a plurality of arms pivotally fixed to the said cap, and extending radially therefrom, a

. drive shaft for the cap ext-ending centrally within the tower, a bevel gear wheel fixed within the tower and concentrically within the'cap, short shafts revolubly mounted and extending radially from the cap, gear wheels fixed to the inner ends of said shafts to operate in mesh with the horizontal gear, carriage suspending shafts revolubly mounted and extending vertically through the outer ends of said arms, cross heads fixed by universal connections to the lower ends of said vertical shafts, carriages suspended from said cross heads, telescopically connected shaft sections mounted longitudinally along the said arms; the inner sect-ions having universal joint connection with the shafts mounted by said cap and the outer sections having bevel gearing connection with the carriage suspending shafts, means for rotating the drive shaft to rotate the cap and arms and means for oscillating the arms as they rotate.

Signed at Seattle, lVa-shington, this 27th day of February, 1920.

JESSE C. WELCH. 

